A Brief Guide to Dilapidation Surveys

Just over a third of people in the UK rent their homes (36.6%) and tenants have a responsibility to keep a property in good condition, whether they rent from an agency or a private landlord. Some light wear and tear is expected, especially if the property has been lived in for a long time, but if you need help assessing the damage there are professional third party services that can help landlords to assess the condition of a property at the end of a lease.

A dilapidation survey is one of the most common methods and it’s a professional, efficient way to document the condition of a property after a lease and lay out the steps to restore it to its former condition. If you’d like to know more about dilapidation surveys and why they’re useful, read on for our brief guide.

What is a dilapidation survey?

Dilapidation is a term used to describe the process of falling into decay or disrepair, but it’s also used to refer to any repairs needed at the end of a building’s tenancy or lease. A dilapidation survey is an independent assessment arranged by a landlord or property manager to assess the condition of a property at the end of it’s lease or contract.

The survey will also include a detailed report of any repairs or maintenance that needs to be carried out, in order to restore the property to its original condition.

How can they help?

A professional survey from a third party can be extremely useful when it comes to managing any disputes between tenants and landlords and it also helps hold tenants accountable for the state of the property. If the premises are left in a damaged or unrepaired state then a tenant can be liable to pay the landlord damages to cover the costs. They can include the equivalent of repair costs, as well as loss of rent (if the repair work delayed a new tenant moving in), payment of rates and a landlord’s professional fees.

A survey can also help tenants too, if they believe that a landlord is trying to charge them unfairly for any dilapidations, for example for damage to the property that already existed when they moved in.

If you’re in need of a professional dilapidation survey for your property, get in touch with the experts at Simon Levy. We’re proud to offer fair and realistic surveys for the benefit of both landlords and tenants and our team can work with you to help you get the best deal, based on a detailed Schedule of Conditions. For more information or to arrange a survey of your property, give us a call today on 020 8207 6100, or visit our website.